Smoke billows following an airstrike on the western frontline of Raqqah on July 15, 2017, during an offensive by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). (Photo by AFP)

Islam Times - At least 22 civilians, mainly women and children, have been killed in the latest US airstrikes on the Syrian cities of Raqqah and Dayr al-Zawr.

According to Syria's official news agency, SANA, 11 of the civilians were killed as US jets targeted a residential area in Raqqah, while 11 more were killed during a strike on Dayr al-Zawr’s al-Shahabat village on Wednesday.

The raids also severely damaged private property and civilian infrastructure in the targeted areas.

The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.

The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of fulfilling its declared objective of destroying Daesh.

The Syrian government has also on multiple occasions sent letters to UN Secretary General António Guterres and the UN Security Council condemning the US-led coalition for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity through aerial bombardment of residential neighborhoods.